DARREN Purse was today expected to complete a #750,000 move to Cardiff City.

The central defender will become the second Albion player to move to the Welsh capital in 24 hours following the loan move of Jason Koumas yesterday.

The Championship side will pay a structured fee for the 28-year-old, who should sign a deal subject to passing a Ninian Park medical.

Purse's departure will bring an end to his one-year spell at The Hawthorns, which has brought mixed fortunes.

Having started brightly last season, Purse struggled to maintain his form and was axed from the first-team following February's defeat at Norwich City.

It means Albion will now step up their search for a new centre-back, with Pole Jaroslaw Bieniuk remaining on the radar.

The Baggies are also one of several clubs linked with a move for Manchester United utility man Phil Neville.

One player looking increasingly unlikely to join is Dynamo Kiev's Maksim Shatskikh.

The Ukrainian club are willing to sell the Uzbek striker, but Albion are unable to reach an agreement.

I understand the matter has been complicated further by agents making excessive demands.

Albion will look elsewhere for a new striker and may be alerted to Steve Marlet's availability as Fulham have told the 31-year-old Frenchman they are willing to let him go following two years on loan at Marseille.

Albion could also renew their interest in Crystal Palace striker Andrew Johnson. The Baggies looked at the ex-Blues man earlier in the summer, but were knocked back when they made an inquiry.

But with Bryan Robson anxious to bring in another striker, Albion may return with an improved bid for the highly rated England international.

Crystal Palace have maintained they will not allow Johnson to go on the cheap but they may be forced to sell him as the player has made it clear he wants a return to top-flight football to try to earn himself a place in next year's World Cup should England qualify.